Hawkes Bay

Intense aromatics of passionfruit, tropical fruit and background fennel notes lead into a flavoursome, succulent palate in this dry style wine. A classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that is fresh, pure and long on the palate reflecting the growing season and our premium vineyard sites.

97+ Points - Magdalena Sienkiewicz "The 2018 Keltern burst with energy as vibrant perfume oozes form the glass. Buttered popcorn, citrus oil, ripe peaches and minerals make for a super expressive nose, but it needs at least 15 minutes in a glass to unfurl. The flavours coat every facet of the palate with great weight revealing further complexities. Creamy cashew nuts add character and richness while sweet nectarines are counterbalanced by a savoury edge. Lengthy and simply scrummy, I can see this becoming my new go-to New Zealand Chardonnay."

97 points - Sam Kim "Stunning and elegant, this is exquisitely composed and expressed on the nose showing white flesh nectarine, grapefruit, fig and lemon pith characters with nuances of spicy oak and flint. The palate exhibits exceptional concentration and focus, wonderfully enhanced by refined texture and perfectly pitched acidity. It’s splendidly poised and brilliantly structured for a long haul. At its best: 2022 to 2030."

Bob Campbell "The first Bilancia Chardonnay I have tasted. Fruit from La Collina vineyard and Bridge Pa Triangle. Indigenous yeast and 15 months in oak without fining or cold stabilisation. Attractive, elegant chardonnay with tight citrus, mineral, struck flint and savoury yeast lees and spicy oak flavours. A classy chardonnay with development potential." 

 International Wine Challenge: Gold 2017

98 Points - Sam Kim, Wine Orbit "A wine of total seduction, the gloriously perfumed bouquet shows dark plum, blueberry, floral and game with nuances of cedar and black pepper. The palate is powerful and sumptuous, and delivers waves of delectable fruit flavours, enhanced by velvety texture and loads of supple tannins. Compelling and formidable, while remaining pure and true to its origin. From their Omahu Gravels and Twyford Gravels vineyards in the Gimblett Gravels district. At its best: 2018 to 2032."

James Suckling  "There’s a fresh and lively feel to this rich and layered chardonnay that offers plenty of peach flavour and some mango, too. All delivered in a quite assertive, structured and punchy, taut mode. Drink now."

Winemaker "The 2018 vintage has produced a classic Hawke's Bay Chardonnay. Beautifully fragrant citrus, stone fruit and roasted nuts combine on a finely styled, textured and balanced palate showing good complexity."

97 Points - Stuart McCloskey “The nose offers swathes of complexity, coupled with reductive flinty notes. Lemon oil in abundance which I love. The wine is broad on the palate, concentrated and fans out magnificently with a fine border of acidity. Weighty, nutty and the waxy expression is very appealing and not at all heavy. Sweet stone fruits complement the savoury edge – Zips of lemon and lime acidity delight. Unashamedly ripe and struts its stuff with much confidence. Moreish and mouth-watering. Has cellaring potential but has immediate appeal. Served with Zalto Bordeaux glassware and Queen’s Somebody to Love played at full blast. Fermented with 100% wild, indigenous yeast and fermented in French Barriques of which 27% were new with the balance 1 and 2 years old. It was then matured for 10 months in barriques.”